Just seen the LT player ratings. Pears got a 4, somehow. Dolan, Johnson and Gallagher got 5. Now I'm not saying any of those three had a good game (in Dolan's case he was given an unfair ask) but that they only scored 1 higher than quite possibly the worst goalkeeping performance I've seen for us? In and of itself, 4 is disgustingly high for how he played. If a goalie ever deserved a 1, it was him. Wigan only had 2 shots on target and scored 3 goals!! The first was very poor from him, the second was an abomination and you can even argue he should have done better for the third (I'll let that one slide, personally). What exactly did he do to earn any marks above the minimum 1 out of 10 ?! You have to do something positive to earn marks ffs, all he did was single handedly cost us the game. Or double handedly in the case of the second goal!

The opinions of the judge can be wrong too though. Even the best get it wrong. There's no flawless way of assessing a player. People can't even agree on whether Messi or Ronaldo is the better player. The article the other poster put up though is a combination of footage, data and the opinion of someone who has watched him play a lot more than presumably anyone on here has. Between all the footage and opinions I've heard so far, I feel we're getting a picture of what kind of player he is. The proof will always be in the pudding though, when he's in our shirt, playing in a different league and different country. Then we will all make up our own opinions of him. Even then they'll change. In the meantime, there's little point discussing him at all if we're going to dismiss anything that is of 'limited use'. Regarding better positioning leading to less tackles, yes that's exactly what I saw you post previously and why I thought interceptions and blocks being reasonably high too suggests he isn't just all over the shop and having to make wild tackles. As we've said, they can't give the whole picture, but some indications are emerging. Very interested to see how he does when he settles in.

@roversfan99 I've seen you comment that Zeefuik's highlight video only showed blood and thunder challenges, and that good reading and positioning aren't as exciting so rarely make it into highlight reels. So I thought this was interesting, from the article someone posted earlier ( https://www.scoutedftbl.com/best-young-football-players/deyovaisio-zeefuik/ ). 'The 22-year-old often uses his body well, getting himself between the ball and his opponent, allowing him to regain possession. It should be noted that he also averages 1.4 interceptions and 0.7 blocks per 90, highlighting the dividends of good positioning and anticipation.' Data doesn't tell the full story, and interception stats are harder to find than many, but for comparison, Nyambe seems to average 1.3 interceptions and 0.3 blocks. Zeefuik also had 3 tackles per game to Nyambe's 2.1. Different league, different teams, slightly old article etc etc but the data and the scouting report seem to suggest he does read the game fairly well. Tbh I don't think you can fly into tackles like he does, not read the game well, and avoid getting about 8 red cards a season! Just thought you might be interested.

You're honestly ok with Pears in goal if Kaminski gets injured for 3 months? Really?

I'm sure this is a common misconception on the continent, but not all English clubs are flush with cash. In fact, very few Championship clubs are. You're all thinking of Premiership clubs. The second tier...not many are going to spend 3.5 million Euros on a right back who hasn't played in this league. Quite frankly, I don't believe we have the money for it, and if the purchase clause is that high, we are probably lying to you about our ability to spend that in the summer in order to get the loan done. If the clause was about 2 million as you say would be fair, we might not be leading you on and actually intend to buy him if he does well. Of course, if we get promoted and think he can step up to the Prem, that's an entirely different story. There's a small chance we can also afford it if we don't get promoted, but sell Brereton for very good money. But if we sell him for say, 25 million, I'd estimate at least half of it will get swallowed up by our debt. A good chunk of the rest would be on a Brereton replacement, potentially leaving a little to play with to replace Nyambe (our current RB), Lenihan (our captain) and Rothwell (a key midfielder). I don't think 3.5 million just for the RB is likely in that scenario. For a bit of context, the most we have spent in the last few years is 6-7 million on Brereton, 5 million on Gallagher and 1.5-3 million on Armstrong. All English strikers we intended to sell on for big profits. After that, I think the most we have spent on anybody for years was 750k. On defenders, I think the most we have spent on one is 500k in about the last...oh, 9 years probably? And even when our defence drastically needed new players, we relied on loans and freebies. Basically, don't hold your breath for that 3.5 million.

It's certainly not guaranteed, so far as we know, that he's off. But various pieces to the jigsaw that suggest it might be the case. Zeefuik seems a bit expensive to just be cover. Nyambe was left out of the cup squad altogether, a day after a rumour appeared on FB that he had been saying goodbye to all the staff. The manager has shown a tendency to not give him a fair crack of the whip and his contract is nearly up with talks at a standstill. A rumour recently emerged linking him to Leeds for about 3 million, which (if we weren't in a promotion battle) would be very fair money for a Championship RB with 6 months on their deal. Oh and the slight possibility that Brown is regarded as the cover when he is up to speed, and Zeefuik as the Nyambe replacement. Doubt most of us would be comfortable with that, but it can't be ruled out with our budget. I think we all want to keep Nyambe as well as bringing in Zeefuik, and then that's that position sorted. Hopefully that's what's happening.

I'm fairly sure you've listed which positions you want reinforcements and mentioned more than 3, but hey ho. If we have 4 spots, let's look to fill them. Zeefuik seems to be arriving. Need a reliable backup keeper. An attacker and a midfielder.

My views on the players we are linked with, as far as I'm remembering them (obviously if someone signs we just see how they do, no need to jump in with 'you haven't seen them play for us yet' etc, it's boring). Souttar - no thanks, far far too injury prone. Burke - no thanks. Sounds like he is quick but not much else, been around a lot of clubs for his age and rarely set anything on fire. Unlikely to be cheap. Hedges - unimpressive record in a mediocre league. Not that young that he has loads of scope to improve. No thanks. Pre-contract would be silly as we could be Prem next year and he doesn't sound remotely Prem level. Zeefuik - as Nyambe cover/competition for the rest of the season, pretty happy with this. As a Nyambe replacement now or in the summer (unless we get the same sort of fee for Nyambe), I don't think the finances make the slightest bit of sense relative to paying to keep Nyambe. Maybe by the summer he will have played so fantastically that I change my mind. Sounds and looks like a slight downgrade defensively, and an upgrade offensively. Brown - signed, meh. One of those cheap gambits that might work out and be a masterstroke, and don't cost much if they don't. Also likely allows Pike to go on a better loan. League One attackers - Scully, Harness, whoever the other one was. These actually sound alright to me as cheap gambits with room to improve. Scully appealed the most. Maja - if he is properly over his back problem, could be a very useful loan, with an option to buy if he really impresses. Should be affordable in the summer regardless, either through promotion or BBD cash. Summerville - if Leeds are playing hardball over Poveda, and will only take him back if we take Summerville...then as long as the wage contribution isn't too much higher than we're already paying, this makes a lot of sense. Seems to have reasonable pedigree for a young loanee, and Bielsa teams press like our forward line does. Doyle - Man City youth player, Tommy. Not a clue, no opinion really. Making only 6 appearances (even with a goal thrown in) in the German second tier doesn't inspire, but young players especially can struggle to settle abroad. Presumably would essentially be to replace Clarkson with someone who can hopefully contribute more. Christie - Unless Nyambe is leaving this window, this won't happen now Zeefuik is signing (allegedly). But if he does leave, then I suppose Zeefuik becomes the Nyambe replacement and Christie becomes the cover we already needed. Being experienced, that would seem a solid enough loan, though with only one loanee space remaining in the squad so probably overkill. Conspicuous by absence - a reliable deputy for Kaminski. Until yesterday this didn't seem as much of a priority, but now I absolutely dread Kaminski being out for even a few games. Could be enough to cost us everything as it's likely to be tight at the end of the season. Again due to the loan numbers limitation, this could be tricky to pull off well enough to be worth it, but I think we are taking an almighty risk as things stand. I've probably forgotten one or two. I'm not counting the likes of Healy, who as far as I can see was only linked in the previous window. And I really shouldn't have to say it, but yes these are largely uninformed opinions about players I mostly haven't seen. I'm going off their general profile - age, pedigree, position, likely cost, second hand opinions I've seen, goals and assists ratios, etc. These are just initial impressions.

As 'excuses'?? Eh?! It's not up to us whether players become unavailable because of covid. We don't set government or league policy, the government and the league do. It doesn't matter if not a single player doesn't get symptoms, if 6 or 7 of them get a positive result we will miss them for up to 3 games depending when it happens. On top of any existing injuries or suspensions, that would be a serious problem. Your highly questionable views on covid, how serious it is, etc are all 100% irrelevant, because the cold fact is it could seriously hamper our ability to field a competitive side. That's why Roversfan99 is suggesting we need more squad depth. Although ironically we could end up having to field a team with our best players out, if our squad is too deep, as it could mean we technically have the numbers. In some cases a postponement would be preferable (see Hull, who will have a much stronger side available than if they'd just about squeezed enough players together in December). The flip side of keeping too small a squad is you might still have to play the games, but with less players, plus you could get fixture congestion if too many are called off. Your notions of whether covid outbreaks are less likely to happen in the coming weeks and months are also irrelevant, as you're not a viral outbreak data modeller, and even they don't know for sure. New strains can appear and turn the picture on its head practically overnight. The fact is, the potential impact of covid on our squad is something we must consider, whether chaddyrovers likes to hear it or not.

Frankly, that's a system designed to move academy graduates on. You can't have that baked in as a systemic bias, you have to make more impartial judgements of worth.

No I couldn't go, I watched the stream, and the replays. The first goal he was also responsible by having very poor positioning. Not for the first time for us either. The second is absolutely inexcusable. But the third I'll say again, I'm certain was meant as a cross. In which case his positioning would have been fine. He tried to read the intent, and the intended thing didn't happen. A better keeper may save it, but may also fail to, especially if anticipating the cross. I've already said I don't want to see him play for us again. He doesn't have it, mentally. He made a mistake and collapsed after. That mentality won't cut it, we need a reliable deputy ASAP.

Hate to say it but I called it even before the game 🤣 sorry. Really hope I'm wrong.

If Kaminski had played today, we win that, it's that simple. Pears redeemed himself a bit with those clean sheets, although like I said before he didn't have to do tons to earn them. But after that, no, I don't ever want to see him play for us again.

Pears not as much to blame on that one. But after the game he's had, half inclined to blame him anyway. Commentator seems clueless to the fact that was clearly a cross that fluked in.

Ayala looking offside in the replay.

Btw who was it the other game who commented that Khadra needed to be back on free kick duty? You were spot on.

Well thank fuck for that but we had better go on to win now or we're only doing ourselves more harm. Plus it'll cost me 90 quid. Has to be resolved before penalty shootout or we know who is going to cost us....

Haven't turned up at all simply isn't true. We were definitely the better side until Pears went suicide bomber and blew the whole team's confidence to shit. We weren't at our best but we clearly deserved to win before that.

A new reserve keeper just became a necessary January signing.

Came to catch a cross and basically carried it straight into his net. I'm struggling to remember when I was last this angry with a goalkeeper, and I'm not even too invested in the FA cup this year.

Max Power, Aasgaard, do Wigan intentionally recruit players with ridiculous names?

He's worse than Jake Kean was.

And Wigan's fans can eat dick pies too. 'Premier League, you're having a laugh' what, because our sub goalie is shite?

Please tell me we can make 5 subs and take this cunt off. We should tear up his contract on the grounds of gross incompetence.

Wow, called it, before my stream caught up. Suicide by goalkeeper.